Increasing residential
development is changing the face of Christchurch's inner city.

The number of people living within the four avenues
increased by 16 per cent in the five years between 1991 and 1996, twice the growth rate of
the city as a whole. Between July 1991 and June 1997 571 new houses were constructed in
the same area.

Planning policy for the city over the last 30 years has
looked to encourage inner city living. There are real benefits to be gained in supporting
the commercial activity of the central city. People can live close to work and avoid long
distance commuting. It puts people back into the heart of the city, restoring a sense of
community, as well as supporting facilities and services existing in the area.

Greater development and a growing population does,
however, mean change for the local environment. Much of the existing housing stock is
older and design and architectural styles often differ from those of new housing.

Townhouses and apartment buildings tend to be larger,
closer together and more prominent in the landscape than the older housing stock they
replace. With greater building density, issues of design become particularly important,
the way buildings look, the way they relate to neighbouring properties and the contrast of
old and new.

The growing population also places demands on facilities
such as parks and schools. As older houses are moved and sites are cleared ready for new
development, existing trees and other vegetation is often removed and with more buildings
replacing them, less space remains for replacement planting.

The resident community is also changing with the
introduction of new housing and a growing trend to inner city living. Older and cheap
rental accommodation is often replaced by more expensive townhouses and apartments. The
loss of boarding house accommodation in particular has been noticeable in recent years in
the eastern inner city. For those unable to afford alternative accommodation the
consequences can be severe.

These issues extend beyond the responsibilities of inner
city land owners and the realm of town planning, but do reflect genuine difficulties
confronting this community.

Successful redevelopment of the inner city therefore
becomes a matter of balance. Inner city residential development can have positive affects
for the city but care needs to be taken to ensure the character and uniqueness of this
urban environment is not destroyed for those who visit or live within it.

The City Council is therefore working to promote both the
provision of affordable accommodation and good urban design in the inner city. With the
assistance of local architects, guidelines are being prepared to promote good design
practice. These guidelines will address issues in relation to individual properties such
as the following:

outdoor space

access to sunshine

carparking

safety and security

privacy

It is intended that these guidelines will also address
the relationship with neighbouring properties, considering issues such as shading and
screening and also the context of the wider community.

In addition, a Council working party has been actively
pursuing the provision of affordable accommodation in the inner city. The Council has
recently purchased a series of motels and lease negotiations are being completed to secure
the provision of low cost accommodation. Other similar initiatives are also being
investigated, directed particularly at meeting the needs of elderly, single people living
in this area of the city.